And huge congratulations in your scholarship success, keyboardplodder!! How did you manage to change everything and and begin in time (if you don't mind me asking)?
For me, although I would be absolutely prepared to, I would need to move and find accommodation, find my way around a new city and community and begin a new life in a new part of the country which I know fairly well but have never lived in... As I said, I would be totally willing to do this and it would be exciting but at the same time it is a slightly daunting prospect..!

Thanks so much for your replies, Treeoflife and keyboardplodder!

I am a humanities bod so the funding is (I have been told) horrendously competitive. What has slightly surprised me is that at different institutions I have been gives different advice. I have applied to four UK Russell Group institutions and one advised holding out until I get funding as then I am laying the foundations for winning funding, which will be a huge benefit post doc and beyond and another has told me to not rely on getting funding and have a plan to self fund because of the scarcity of the funding and the fierce competition..

My application was held back as reserve for research council funding and then I got the news that reserves above me had taken the rejected studentships so I was unsuccessful. This was a massive knock back. I am now a reserve for College funding. The reserve part, great (I am hugely grateful to have been selected as reserve) but unbelievably frustrated too. I am applying for partial scholarships externally but again, these are going to be even more competitive and I will have to get a couple to fund even the first year. I have prepared myself for a deferral of my places at the institutions I have not got funding from and am trying to prepare myself for my reserve status to be unchanged and deferral with the attached place. And then the possibility of beginning all the funding apps again in August so I can be considered in the next cycle!! I am very impatient and just want to get started on the research but unsure I'll cope with a part time PhD, it is purely personal issues with being a bit obsessive about the work I do and allowing it to be all encompassing etc.

Anyway, thanks so much again. Definitely fingers crossed -TreeofLife, and Keyboardplodder, I will endeavour to come to terms with the deferral and prepare to apply for next year and if unsuccessful again, prepare to work and self-fund part time!!!
L x

Ah,I've just found some old posts in which the reserves were successful. Hmmmm, I am trying to remain hopeful but I want this so badly that it is tough... Also, I am worried that if I am unsuccessful, deferring at the last minute will be letting my supervisors down. Any thoughts and advice very welcome!!

Hi,

I think I have seen a post about this at some point in the recent past so advance apologies for repeating.

I have been selected as a reserve candidate for full funding at my first choice institution to study for my PhD. Has anyone has been a reserve, and if so, did you end up getting the funding? I have been told a scholarship could become available (presumably if someone turns a scholarship offer down?!) any time between now and the start of the academic year. Of course I am hopeful and really pleased but I feel like my life will be in limbo while I wait and if one comes up at the last minute, I will have to move and sort out starting a new life in a new part of the country, apply for uni accommodation (which may be all gone!)... and have to do things very fast. If I wait until the last minute and am unsuccessful, I will then have to defer at the last minute as I can not self-fund. Any advice, experiences of this,would be very welcome!

Thanks,
L

Thanks HistoryHat! I was surprised at quite how upset I was (still am)at that first rejection. I know I want this very badly as is it my gateway into my chosen career (as I presume it is for many of us) and the rejection is oddly very personal.

Thanks so much for your kind advice, I have started looking for projects, and they are few and far between but I will certainly go for one if I fit the applicant criteria!!

I just feel like I've done all I can ie gained a Dist in my Masters, good references, (I think) a strong research proposal and unconditional offers of PhD places..but I take your point about factors at play beyond my control. I might send you a direct message (if you don't mind), as I'm worried about saying too much on the public forum!

Lx

Thanks so much for your reply, HistoryHat.

Yes, you understood correctly. I don't want to identify myself so was careful in my description but without betraying too much, I was doing a Humanities Masters last year, applied for PhD places and funding in the Winter. Got offered places but not funding (departmental scholarships). I was short listed for a full scholarship and interviewed but unsuccessful. I deferred my places and applied for funding with, what I thought was a stronger research proposal this year and didn't even get shortlisted for the award I was interviewed for last year - I didn't necessarily expect to b shortlisted but I was really upset when I got the rejection email. I'm just so disheartened.
Thanks for your encouragement! And congratulations on your success with funding :)
L x

ie... did you have to make applications in successive years or did the majority of successful applicants secure funding first time around?

Hi,

How long have those of you who have been successful in full funding applications (UK/Home students) for PhD's in Humanities had to wait until actually securing that funding?

Any advice and/or success stories very welcome!!

Thanks,
Lizzie

Hi,

I am applying for PhDs and separate funding competitions and I'm concerned that I'm asking for so many references from the same three academics. These academics are all my previous lecturers and one was my dissertation supervisor, I respect them hugely and they've all agreed to referee me and I have two PhD offers which i am thrilled about but I am very concerned I'm bombarding already very busy academics with yet more work. Has anyone been in a similar position? Any idea as to how to minimize being a pain in the bum re references?

What subject? And what is the dissertation on?

I was given three months to accept my offers, but because I applied at the start of the academic year, I was still without funding so I emailed admissions asking their advice.I accepted on the basis that I needed funding to take my up place as I didn't want to lose the offer.
Congratulations on your offers!

What is exactly is a PLC??

I think Jellybeanz2 is correct in advising you end with the title.Of course you will be investigating research questions or testing your hypothesis - which you can word how you like, providing it accurately describes to your supervisors what you are testing/investigating.

Would you not be asking something like: 'After ?? attempts to introduce PLC's into (number) Saudi Arabian universities/name the institutions, why have such attempts resulted in failure / been unsuccessful? (Or if you are looking at one university, be more specific in the question.)

However this seems a gigantic project. What is the size of your thesis??

That is less leading, but appears very broad. Also, how are you defining 'taking effect'?

I can't help with these awards, but previous postgrad funding I've applied for based their selection on the following: 50% grades, 30% quality of research proposal, 20% prizes and/or extra-curricular activity associated with research proposal ie placements in research facilities and/or publications.

Excellent resource.